When I woke up this morning and scanned The Boston Globe, I received a little jolt. It wasn't because the Arabs and Jews were devastatingly blowing each other up again. I could handle that. Nor was the source President Nixon's search for a successor to Exspiro Agnew. Since I knew he wouldn't choose his wife (at a time like this, the country can't stand Pat), what did it matter? In fact, nothing on page one so much as gave me a shiver.

The source of my morning's excitement was on page 50. Or rather, on the bottom of page 50--unprominently placed. It was a small item, right next to a "Let's Go Patriots" blurb sponsored by Old Smuggler Scotch.

It was small type, with numbers. It said "NCAA Statistics: Team Defense." And there on top of a column featuring names like Notre Dame, Tulane, Oklahoma State and Alabama, it read "Harvard." I almost dropped trow.

It's true. Harvard is the NCAA total defense leader after two games of the Crimson season. Harvard has given up 262 yards in 125 plays, for a 131.0 per game average. Second place Notre Dame is a sizeable distance back, yielding 161.0 yards per contest, or 30 yards per game behind the Crimson. The basis for this heady ratings is the Crimson's performance against the run. In two contests Harvard has given up 76 yards on the ground, for a stingy 38.0 average. Penn State, with a 36.3 per game average, leads the NCAA in rushing defense.

Harvard should extend the trend this weekend. Columbia is in town, and well, to put it gently, the Lions offense is about as potent as an 89-year-old eunuch.

The action:

PRINCETON-CORNELL--You've got to be kidding. The Tigers exceeded all negative expectations last week in losing to Columbia and seem to have made reservations for the cellar spot. The Big Red rolls on and on. Cornell 28, Princeton 3.

PENN-DARTMOUTH--Hangover, N.H., will be wet tonight, as Greenies try to drown the sorrows of a three-game losing streak. Bellizeare passed the career 1000-yard mark for Quakers last week and motors on today. Penn 17, Dartmouth 10.

YALE-BROWN--Carm's wishbone breaks right this week, but not by much. This Bruin outfit could mess over a few Elis. Yale 19, Brown 12.

COLUMBIA-HARVARD--The Harvard defense keeps the stats down again against a pop-run Lion attack. Stoeckel must fire the Crimson 0 more effectively than last week, though, to prepare for trouble down the line. Columbia D keeps it respectable. Harvard 21, Columbia 6.

CRIMSON-SPECTATOR--Today's mystery contest. The Spectator's having trouble finding bodies. But even with three Harvard Square street people and a B&G man, the Spectator will bow, 23-2.

Last week: Three for six (.500). Season: 6 for 14 (.429). On the upswing.